In an era defined by the escalating climate crisis, the role of a well-informed, accurate, and articulate climate change correspondent has never been more critical.
These journalists are tasked with informing the public about complex scientific data, policy changes, and the profound impacts of climate change on communities and ecosystems worldwide. The following are some of the qualities needed to do the job.
Expertise
An environmental or science correspondent covering climate change will have to have a broad understanding of climate science or policy in order to interpret complex data and policy discussions.
Beyond formal education, proven experience as a journalist is essential, with a track record of reporting on complex issues. A demonstrated understanding of climate science, policy, and related fields is a must.
Experience in data journalism and multimedia storytelling can be a significant advantage, allowing for more engaging and impactful reporting.
Communication
Excellent writing, communication, and presentation skills are essential. A climate change correspondent must be able to translate complex scientific and policy information into accessible language for a broad audience.
Strong research and analytical skills are crucial for investigating and reporting on the multifaceted aspects of climate change.
The ability to work both independently and collaboratively is also important, as these journalists often work with scientists, policymakers, and community leaders.
Guides
Some climate correspondents will be working as freelancers – meaning that they are not attached to any particular news organisation.
The European Journalism Centre (EJC) has published ‘A freelancer’s guide to reporting on climate change‘ which offers advice for freelancers reporting on climate change, highlighting the importance of their role in reaching a broader audience and influencing individuals and policymakers. Here’s a summary of the main points:
- Focus: Break down the broad topic by concentrating on specific areas such as activist groups, government actions, solutions, or climate adaptation.
- Precision: Be accurate when linking real-world events to climate change, and incorporate personal stories to engage audiences.
- Human impact: Explore the experiences of those affected by climate change, particularly vulnerable communities and Indigenous peoples, and consider including non-human perspectives.
- Relatability: Connect environmental issues to everyday events to make stories more relevant to the audience, and explore the intersections of climate change with other areas like food security, health, and income inequality.
- Critical approach: Challenge existing perceptions, question narratives, and highlight inconsistencies in climate coverage.
- Scientific understanding: Grasp the scientific basis of climate change, use data effectively, and employ clear language to explain technical details.
- Safety: Assess and prioritise safety risks when covering sensitive topics.
- Diversity: Include a wide range of interviewees, incorporate traditional and Indigenous knowledge, and avoid jargon to enhance accessibility and impact.
The final point about avoiding jargon is particularly important when explaining complex issues, as is understanding the frequently used words and terms that relate to climate change.
The organisation Covering Climate Now has produced a helpful guide for journalists covering climate change which is introduced with the words:
“Climate change is the defining challenge of our time impacting nearly every aspect of our lives, making it a story for every journalist in the newsroom. Audiences want to better understand climate change, its potential solutions, and what they can do about it. This guide is designed to help do just that. It covers the basics of climate change and provides sample language to help you include climate in your stories.”
Another organisation offering guidance to climate change journalists is World Weather Attribution which has produced an 18-page guide for journalists covering climate change. You can download it in pdf format here. The document is introduced with the words:
“Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, heavy rainfall, storms and droughts, are becoming more frequent and stronger in many parts of the world as a result of human-caused climate change. However, not all events are becoming more likely, and changes are uneven across the world.
“These events often have widespread impacts on society, including the loss of crops and farmland, destruction of property, severe economic disruption and loss of life. Following an extreme event with severe impacts, a great deal of public interest is generated in its causes. Increasingly, the dominant question is: “Was this event caused by climate change?” This guide is intended to help journalists navigate this question.”
Internews has produced a two-page pdf called ‘Covering Climate Change: A Journalist’s Guide to Science, Stories, and Solutions’ which it introduces as follows:
“Climate change poses significant threats to the health of the planet, ecosystems, and humans. Journalists can raise public awareness about the health impacts by reporting accurately and giving their audience relevant and accessible information. They can help communities prepare for and prevent potential health crises and influence policy makers to take action against climate change.”
Ethical journalism
Covering climate change demands a deep commitment to informing, educating, and explaining complex climate issues to a wide audience. A strong ethical compass and a dedication to journalistic integrity are essential. This includes a commitment to:
- Fact-checking: Ensuring the veracity of all reporting by applying robust fact-checking techniques as outlined in Fact-checking and adding context.
- Accuracy: Adhering to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and accuracy, as detailed in Integrity and journalism and Accuracy in journalism.
- Avoiding false balance and false equivalence: Ensuring that reporting reflects the scientific consensus on climate change, as explained in False equivalence and false balance.
- Recognising bias: Understanding and addressing the influence of unconscious bias in reporting and analysis, referencing Unconscious bias and its impact on journalism.
- Maintaining impartiality: Striving for impartiality in journalism, as explained in Impartiality in journalism.
- Dealing with disinformation and misinformation: Being equipped to handle the challenges of disinformation and misinformation, as outlined in Dealing with disinformation and misinformation.
- Using appropriate language: Presenting climate information in a manner that is understandable and relatable to a broad audience, utilizing appropriate climate change tone and language.
- Employing correct terminology: Utilizing the Climate Change Glossary from Media Helping Media to ensure accurate and consistent use of climate-related terms.
Commitment
Ultimately, the most effective correspondents are driven by a passion for addressing the climate crisis and promoting informed public discourse. They possess a deep commitment to informing, educating, and empowering the public to make informed decisions and take action. Their work is characterised by integrity, accuracy, and a dedication to amplifying marginalised voices and holding policymakers accountable.
The climate journalist
Our planet is facing serious challenges due to climate change, and the role of climate journalists has become incredibly important. They’re more than just reporters; they’re essential guides, helping us navigate a complex and often confusing situation.
Key skills:
- Deep understanding:
- It’s not enough to simply report on scientific findings. Journalists need to understand the underlying science, the uncertainties, and how different aspects of the Earth system interact.
- They must also be able to connect climate change to other important issues, such as economics, politics, and social justice. This requires a broad understanding of various fields.
- They should be skilled in analysing data and presenting it in a clear and engaging way, using visuals and storytelling techniques.
- Effective communication:
- Translating complex scientific information into understandable language is crucial. This involves simplifying without losing accuracy.
- They must tell stories that highlight the human impact of climate change, while respecting the dignity and agency of those affected. It is important to avoid stereotypical stories.
- They should encourage critical thinking and open discussions about climate change, challenging misinformation and promoting informed debate.
- Clarifying complex information:
- In a world filled with fake news and misleading information, journalists must be vigilant in fact-checking and debunking false claims.
- They must adhere to high ethical standards, ensuring accuracy, fairness, and impartiality in their reporting.
- They must also be aware of the variety of cultural impacts, and report with sensitivity.
- Commitment:
- While maintaining journalistic integrity, they should be driven by a genuine concern for the planet and a desire to inform the public.
- Their goal is to empower people to make informed decisions and take action, not to promote a specific political agenda.
- They must understand the difference between advocating for informed public discourse, and personal advocacy.
In essence, climate journalists are:
- Highly knowledgeable and capable of critical analysis.
- Skilled communicators who can make complex information accessible.
- Ethical and responsible in their reporting.
- Dedicated to informing and empowering the public.
They act as a crucial bridge between scientific knowledge and public understanding, helping us all work together to address the challenges of climate change.
Questions and answers
Try our 10 questions about the role of a climate change journalist.
1. Why is the role of a climate change correspondent increasingly important today?
Answer:
Because the escalating climate crisis impacts communities, ecosystems, and nearly every aspect of our lives, making it crucial for journalists to inform the public with accurate, clear, and impactful reporting.
2. What knowledge and expertise should a climate change journalist have?
Answer:
They should have a broad understanding of climate science and policy, experience in journalism, and ideally skills in data journalism and multimedia storytelling to interpret and present complex information effectively.
3. Why are strong communication skills essential for climate journalists?
Answer:
Because they must translate complex scientific and policy information into clear, relatable stories that are accessible to a broad audience while maintaining accuracy.
4. What is one resource available for freelance climate journalists, and what does it offer?
Answer:
The European Journalism Centre’s guide, “A Freelancer’s Guide to Reporting on Climate Change,” offers tips on focusing coverage, connecting stories to human impacts, ensuring accuracy, and considering safety and diversity in storytelling.
5. What ethical principles should guide climate change journalism?
Answer:
Ethical climate journalists must fact-check rigorously, ensure accuracy, avoid false balance, recognise and deal with bias, maintain impartiality, combat misinformation, use appropriate language, and employ correct terminology.
6. How can climate journalists make complex scientific information relatable to audiences?
Answer:
By simplifying scientific concepts without sacrificing accuracy, connecting climate issues to everyday life, exploring human impacts, and using personal stories and multimedia to engage audiences.
7. What is ‘false balance’ in climate reporting, and why should it be avoided?
Answer:
False balance is giving equal weight to fringe opinions that contradict scientific consensus, which misleads audiences about the reality of climate change. Journalists must reflect scientific facts, not promote misinformation.
8. What role does data journalism play in covering climate change?
Answer:
Data journalism helps analyse, visualise, and present complex climate data in engaging ways, making abstract concepts like global temperature rise or carbon emissions understandable and impactful for audiences.
9. How should climate journalists handle misinformation and disinformation?
Answer:
They should be vigilant in fact-checking, debunk false claims, rely on credible sources, and educate their audience to distinguish facts from misleading information.
10. What drives the best climate change journalists in their work?
Answer:
A deep commitment to informing the public, promoting informed debate, amplifying marginalised voices, holding policymakers accountable, and helping society understand and act on the climate crisis while maintaining integrity and impartiality.
Lesson plan for trainers
If you are a trainer of journalists we have a free lesson plan: Climate Change which you are welcome to download and adapt for your own purposes.
